The main forms of UAE’s traditional architecture were developed as ways to cope with the exceptionally hot and arid climate, using the limited building materials which were available locally.
Al Arish
Arish was the most common housing which was large hut-like structures made from panels of palm fronds, more closely woven for winter use to keep the wind out, and more open in the summer to allow better airflow.
The Arish would face the prevailing wind to catch the breezes. In some Arish, it would be done a wind tower.
Mangrove poles and split palm trunks were used to construct the shelter’s frame.
Palm stems were tied together to form panels and to be fixed to the frame, forming the walls.
Finally, the palm fronds were placed on top to form the roof.
These simple shelters were used by bedouin as summer houses. These shapes varied from square or rectangular with flat roofs, to triangular tent-like structures. Some of them also included wind towers.
